The Fort Report: Connecting Fort Lewis College

Image shows a panaroma of mountains with campus in the distance.

P H O T O O F T H E W E E K

At Fort Lewis College, surreal morning views and intimate natural settings are commonplace—but no less wondrous. With over 300 miles of trails to explore, Skyhawks are routinely reminded why their home is second to none.

Image shows FLC clocktower with sunset in backdrop.

Generosity of donors brings FLC to the highest fundraising summit in college history

The FLC Foundation accomplished a banner year of fundraising from nearly 2,500 donors, who gave more than $9 million in record-setting support for students and the FLC community.

Image shows people working on camper unit.

FLC students build the latest in backcountry tech

FLC students Taylor Austin and Wilder Jensen recently interned as craftsmen with Sasquatch Expedition Campers, a new company specializing in crafting light, backcountry campers. The internship was made possible through the company's cooperation with FLC's School of Business Administration.

Image shows man sitting next to telescope.

Observatory to install cutting-edge upgrades

The Physics & Engineering Department of Fort Lewis College is gearing up to install upgrades to its Observatory atop Sitter Family Hall. The system's overhaul will help the Observatory produce images of comparable quality to NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Image shows two rafts paddling down the river.

Geologists rock the river with FLOW

Fort Lewis on the Water teamed up with the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists for a three-day trip surveying the fantastic geologic formations along the Upper San Juan River Canyon in Utah. Led by Gary Gianniny, professor of Geosciences, the trip attendees had a continuous stream of things to see and learn.

M O R E N E W S F R O M F L C

FLC has struck a rare balance between establishing quality-assurance guardrails and allowing faculty autonomy in planning online courses. As enrollment in online classes skyrockets nationwide, instructors at FLC are employing the Universal Design for Learning framework, triannual course analyses, and critical self-reflections to find what works best for students in an online learning environment.
Kai Hernandez, an FLC student studying computer engineering, accepted an internship with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In his position, Hernandez is writing code that will allow machines to recognize and separate trash from recyclable items using machine learning.
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper announced that $92 million in funding for projects across Colorado was included in the 2023 Fiscal Year appropriation bill. The bill’s many provisions include the additions of $400,000 for FLC’s Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship programming and $1.7 million for the CU Nursing Fort Lewis College Collaborative degree program.
The FLC women’s basketball team was recently named to the 2021-22 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The Skyhawks had a GPA of 3.653, the best among all 15 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools.
FLC student Jack Odron trains tirelessly in high-elevation this summer as he prepares for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race. Odron qualified for the race after shocking onlookers by cinching a first-place win in the Leadville Silver Rush 50 MTB race as a first-time participant.
The Colorado Health Foundation donated $1.7 million to jumpstart the new four-year nursing degree created by FLC and the University of Colorado Anschutz, which will center on community and Indigenous approaches to healthcare. The curriculum will incorporate traditional practices that use plant and herb-based healing.
Noodle, a self-described “Psychedelic-Americana” band formed by FLC alumni, will play at the Powerhouse Science Center as part of the “Rockin’ on the River” concert series. As the third band to come out of the Bader-Snyder complex, Noodle continues Colorado’s funky musical tradition.
Steepland String Band, a musical act formed by former FLC students James Addoms (English, ‘11), Jeff Polak (Environmental Studies, ‘12), and Alex Wissing (ATT ‘08-09), invigorates the bluegrass scene with its poetic lyrics, jam band atmosphere, and therapeutic rhythms.

That’s hawksome

Art Gym, a prestigious arts collaborative in Denver, granted Madi Brunetti (Art, ‘21) the six-month CREATE award residency. Designed to be as cost-effective as possible, the Art Gym frees artists from the need to rent a private studio or purchase expensive tools. It also provides opportunities for networking, inspiration, and artistic development.

Brunetti’s art explores the human form and frequently incorporates moth iconography, yarn threadwork, and heavy oil paint strokes that ooze color and depth. The residency will provide professional training and exposure to Brunetti, whose tenure will culminate with an exhibition in January 2023.

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